Barcelona predict annual revenue near €900m for this season

Barcelona have predicted their annual revenue will be close to the €900 million mark this season, as they draw closer to becoming the first club to break the €1billion mark.

The Spanish giants announced a record revenue of €708m for the 2016/2017 season earlier this year, €13million higher than they had estimated at this time last year. This represents an increase of almost €88m on the previous season.

President Josep Maria Bartomeu has said he wants to reach €1bn by 2021 and the forecasted revenue increase of €189m, would make that aim very realistic.

“The board has approved the budget for the 2017-2018 season,” spokesman Josep Vives said in a news conference on Wednesday.

“This budget reflects a predicted record income of €897m.”

Barca’s coffers have been boosted this season by the new shirt sponsorship deal with Rakuten. The Japanese company replaced Qatar Airways as the club’s principal sponsor in the summer, after agreeing a four-year deal which could be worth as much as €61.5m per season.